Legend (Legend, #1) in Around the World in 80 Books

Mar 14, 2012 Nadine in NY Jones rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, young-adult, encroaching-ocean, dystopian-and-post-apocalyptic, stayed-up-way-too-late, mistaken-identity, favorite-series

I'm not really sure how to review this. I enjoyed it very much, that's for sure. But I suspect it's not going to be one of those books that sticks with me (although, only time will tell!)

The first chapter caught my attention right away, I got excited: this is going to be exceptional! Then the next few chapters were pretty much average (you know, for the whole teen dystopian genre that I keep reading), and after that I was just sucked into the story and I wasn't bothering to review it in my head I'm not really sure how to review this. I enjoyed it very much, that's for sure. But I suspect it's not going to be one of those books that sticks with me (although, only time will tell!)

The first chapter caught my attention right away, I got excited: this is going to be exceptional! Then the next few chapters were pretty much average (you know, for the whole teen dystopian genre that I keep reading), and after that I was just sucked into the story and I wasn't bothering to review it in my head any more. Sign of a good book, right? And yet ... there is just something here that feels ... average.

The author says she was inspired by Les Misérables - I can't comment on any similarities to that, since I've neither read nor watched that one. I DO pick up on quite a strong whiff of 1984.

Things I liked:
* Day & June, fantastic characters! Both have very good reasons for being the way they are, and both have good reasons for being attracted to each other (AND for feeling really conflicted about that).
* The reason for the dystopia feels very natural (although it's not explained very much, but that is part of the appeal - it's been like this for so long, the character don't waste time thinking about it): this is the US in the future (an unknown number of years have passed - enough that citizens do not know the name "United States" except as a distant myth, but not so many, because place names - such as Los Angeles - are still used). The environment has changed - hurricanes are regular, coastlines are flooded. And for some reason the USA has splintered into The Republic (of California!? I was SO hoping the flag would have a bear on it, and everyone would be all 'why is there a bear on our flag? I have no idea what a bear is even!') and the Colonies. Both sides seem to unfairly demonize the other. War is constant (there's that 1984 whiff). This is all treated very matter-of-factly by the characters.
* The lingo - JUST different enough to feel different, not SO different as to be annoying. It felt very natural and really helped build the world in my head. Really, this was the best part of the book.
* Non stop action was still easy to follow and all the plot twists made sense (but none are surprising - if you think you know how this book will play out, you are correct, that is how it will play out).

Things I didn't like:
Well, I just don't know. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but this feels very derivative and unoriginal, even though it is very well done. I would have liked more introspection, more character building, stronger secondary characters, just ... something ... more. Something to make this story stick with me.

Also, at one point Day is described as having skills that "complement" June - uh, no. He MIRRORS June. Their skills are identical. A "complement" would be someone who can do the things you CAN'T do.

One thing that I'm okay with: the "power" these 15 year olds have. Because, they didn't. Day was hardly a serious threat to the Republic - he didn't even have an agenda! He was basically just dicking around, trying to survive, like any 15 year old would. He was barely a thorn in the Republic's side. June was sent after Day as a DISTRACTION - her commander did not expect her to actually find Day, and really didn't give a shit one way or the other, she just wanted June distracted and out of the way. And the spectacle they made of his capture was just another distraction.

One thing that did bug me: in the beginning, Day tells us that the Republic has no idea what he looks like, and every time a news item is posted about him on the ever-present Jumbotrons, a different image is shown. And then later, Thomas (I think?) tells June that an official, Chian, has a personal gripe with Day, because Day gave him the scar on his face, and then June spends pleasant moments musing about how the scar occurred ... So. If Chian has a vendetta against DAY, and Day was close enough to slash Chian's face, clearly (CLEARLY) the Republic DOES know who he is, or, at least, what he looks like. ...more

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Jan 06, 2019 Becca rated it liked it

Shelves: dystopian, sciencefiction, ya, adventure, romance, thriller

I wasn't in love with this one, but I can see myself recommending it often to middle schoolers and young teens who like adventure/thrillers or dystopian. I thought the characters were likeable, if not very original and there were some huge leaps being made to connect one thing to another, but it was definitely a fun, easy, and entertaining read. ...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Jennifer rated it liked it

Rating this at 3.5 stars. Had kind of a slow start (in my opinion) but got more interesting the further I got into it. I'd like to see where the story goes from here. ...more

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